Getting ammunition where it needs to go

Defence Munitions Kineton is the largest ammunition depot in Western Europe. Traffic manager Gary Griffiths tells

Defence Munitions (DM) Kineton, in Warwickshire, is the largest ammunition depot in Western Europe.

As one of eight DM sites throughout the UK and Germany that support operations around the world, we’re responsible for storing, inspecting, maintaining and taking receipt of ammunition for the armed forces. Our aim is to get the ammunition in, make sure it’s in good condition, and get it back out the door, as quickly and safely as possible.

DM Kineton is split into four areas: an admin area, two large depots holding different types of ammunition, from small arms to guided missiles, and a training site that’s separate from our work where the military run Explosive Ordnance disposal and other ammunition-related courses. We have 58 standard explosive storehouses across the two depots, which can hold up to 800 pallets of ammunition, and 185 igloo-type stores, which look like aboveground bunkers with grassy tops.

As one of three traffic managers in the

Marlborough depot, I’m responsible for the ‘out’, the dispatch. There’s a constant operational need for ammunition; there’s always something coming around the corner. We work hard to always meet the needs of our military colleagues.

When a request (known as a ‘demand signal’) comes in, my team gather up the relevant ammunition and ensure it’s in good order, ready to be shipped or collected. Every day we load vehicles and containers that take ammunition across the country and all over the world, from Kenya to the Falklands. We send out over a thousand vehicles every year and since last August we’ve dispatched 230 containers across the globe. We also prepare ammunition for military units to collect and use at firing ranges – it’s an important step in keeping them battle-ready.

Our efforts have supported our Ukrainian allies and have played an important part in Operation Shader in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in Operation Pitting, the evacuation of personnel from Kabul. It’s a busy place to be and the most important thing about being busy is being safe. No matter how large or urgent the demand signal, safety isn’t ever compromised.

This job is all about the relationships with my team. I’ve got young guys here that are still developing, still working out where they want their careers to go. I enjoy helping guide them and giving them some direction. I want to make sure they see the bigger picture, to help them find knowledge and confidence. When I see motivation in people that motivates me.

There’s something really special about working at DM Kineton. When my team see the results of their hard work, maybe in the papers or on TV, they can go, ‘Yeah, I was involved in that; I played a part in that.’

Everyone feels inspired and excited because they know what we are doing here is achieving something special. It’s life-saving stuff and it’s helping stabilise the world.